ICH NGO FORUM - 2026 Newsletter

The first newsletter of the year from the ICH NGO Forum has been published.This edition introduces key updates on the Forum’s future direction, including the upcoming General Assembly in Paris, the expected accreditation of new NGOs to the 2003 Convention, and ongoing efforts to strengthen the Forum’s strategy and internal governance.It also highlights the valuable contributions of the Working Groups, whose dedication continues to support the Forum’s collective work in safeguarding intangible cultural heritage.We invite everyone interested in intangible cultural heritage and international cooperation to read the newsletter and stay engaged with the Forum’s activities.Read the Newsletter : [Click here]

Assosiation of Upper Egypt for Education and Development in the annual meeting of the World Martial Arts Union (WoMAU)

AUEED participated in the annual meeting of the World Martial Arts Union (WoMAU) for the fourth consecutive year, presenting its experience in preserving and reviving the Tahteeb game. Nevin Wagdy, Director of the Cultural Development Program at the Upper Egypt Association, attended the meeting, which was held on Wednesday and Thursday, August 16 and 17, 2023, in Chungju, South Korea, with the participation of 70 members from 47 countries around the world. Nevin Wagdy, Director of the Cultural Development Program at the Association, was also elected Vice President of the World Martial Arts Committee for the next two years. It is noteworthy that in 2019, the Upper Egypt Association Tahtib Team represented Egypt in the Chungju Festival in South Korea, which is organized by the World Traditional Martial Arts Union (WOMAU) and under the auspices of UNESCO. The team presented many different Tahtib shows, which shed global light on Egyptian Tahtib represented by the Upper Egypt Association Tahtib Team. At the same

AUEED organized the final qualifiers for Martial Tahtib Tournament

AUEED organized the final qualifierThe Upper Egypt Association organized the final qualifiers for the Tahtib Sports Tournament on August 20 and 21 in Minya, with the participation of the association's tahtib sports teams. The association's ceremonial tahtib team in Al-Bayadiya, Minya, participated in the award ceremony for the winning teams. The qualifiers were the result of a local tournament organized by the Upper Egypt Association's Cultural Development Program over the past few months in the governorates of Luxor, Qena, Sohag, and Assiut.s for Martial Tahtib Tournament

Association of Upper Egypt for Education and Development in Global Martial Arts forum

The Upper Egypt Association for Education and Development participated in the World Forum for Traditional Martial Arts held in Cheongju, South Korea, from October 7 to 9, 2024. The paper, presented by Nevin Wagdy, Director of the Cultural Development Program at the Upper Egypt Association, showcased the association's experience in empowering and building the capacity of young men and women through the Tahtib method as an intangible human heritage to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. The paper was presented by Nevin Wagdy, Director of the Cultural Development Program at the Upper Egypt Association. She also gave a lecture on the third day about the association's cultural development program activities in light of the Sustainable Development Goals. Relations between the Upper Egypt Association and the World Traditional Martial Arts Union (WOMAU) date back to 2019, when the Upper Egypt Association's Tahtib Team represented Egypt for the first time at the Chungju Festival in South Korea, organized by WOM

AUEED Martial Tahtib Team in "Peace Road" event hosted by the French Cultural Center

On February 5, 2025, the Tahtib Sports Team, affiliated with the Upper Egypt Association for Education and Development (Sohag), participated in a performance as part of the "Peace Road" event hosted by the French Cultural Center in El-Monira. The event was attended by the French Ambassador to Egypt, Eric Chevalier, and was met with great admiration from the audience.

Association of Upper Egypt for Education and Development (AUEED) presented"Arts from Upper Egypt to the World"

Association of Upper Egypt for Education and Development (AUEED) presented the second edition of the "Arts from Upper Egypt to the World" Festival on Sunday, February 9, 2025, at the Italian Cultural Institute Theatre in Cairo. The event was attended by Dr. Laila Iskandar, Vice president of AUEED and the former Minister of Environment of Egypt.This edition followed the festival’s first performance in November 2024 which was held at the Jesuit Theatre in Minya. The showcased performances were inspired by Minya’s cultural heritage, reinterpreted to show contemporary and pressing issues. The festival featured a mesmerizing performance of "Balad Zeinab" operetta by the AUEED Choir in Minya, alongside the "Abu Zaid" show performed by the Ceremonial Tahtib Team, both of which received an enthusiastic response from the audience.This project is funded by the European Union in collaboration with EUNIC Egypt

Assosiation of Upper Egypt for Education and Development Teams perform Egyptian ICH in Ahram Ebdo news

Le journal Al-Ahram Hebdo en français publie les détails de notre tournée artistique en France.https://french.ahram.org.eg/News/59842.aspx

AUEED live interview on Monte Carlo International Radio

live interview with the Upper Egypt Association's "Treasures of Egypt" tour team on Monte Carlo International Radio. Nevin Wagdy cultural program manager in association of Upper Egypt for Education and Development explained the effective role of AUEED plays in promoting Egyptian cultural heritage nationally and internationally, instilling its values ​​among young people, and ensuring its transmission across generations.the link: https://mc-d.co/26Rn

Assosiation of Upper Egypt for Education and Development Teams perform Egyptian ICH in UNESCO

The Permanent Delegation of the Arab Republic of Egypt to UNESCO organized a heritage event at the organization's headquarters in Paris entitled "Treasures of Egypt." The event was held in cooperation with the French Partage Association and the Upper Egypt Association for Education and Development. A group of Egyptian children presented a number of artistic performances from Egyptian heritage, including the art of "stick dancing - tahtib," as well as artistic performances and traditional Egyptian songs from Upper Egypt and Nubia. The event was attended by a large number of ambassadors and representatives of member states and a wide audience interested in Egyptian heritage.Ambassador Alaa Youssef, Ambassador of the Arab Republic of Egypt to Paris and its Permanent Delegate to UNESCO, delivered the opening speech in which he noted Egypt's inscription of tahtib on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2016. He reviewed the history of this art, which dates back to the Pharaoni

AUEED from Egypt Perform Egyptian ICH "Treasures of Egypt" tour in France

The "Treasures of Egypt" tour concluded its performances in Compiègne, France. The final show witnessed a large audience turnout and remarkable audience interaction.We extend our sincere thanks to our partners, the Partage Association, for providing the opportunity for the artistic groups of the Upper Egypt Association for Education and Development to present their heritage, arts, and message calling for equality between boys and girls.This tour, which was invited by the French Partage Association to celebrate its fiftieth anniversary, ran from March 3 to 22, 2025. It included performances in seven different French cities: Lille, Paris (UNESCO), Lyon, Bordeaux, Saint-Agréve, Saint-Médard-en-Jales, and Compiègne. The performances were warmly welcomed by the French audiences in each city. Twenty-one boys and girls from Minya and Luxor governorates, aged 11 to 13, participated in the tour, presenting distinguished performances in singing, sports, and traditional stick fighting. The aim was to promote Egyptian cu

ICH NGO Forum , The 17th UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee

17COM November 27, 2022 The 17th UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee was held at the Sofitel Hotel in Rabat, Morocco, for six days from November 28 to December 3, 2022. At the entrance to the conference hall was a large flag of the Commission, which forms the Intergovernmental Committee on the Protection of Intangible Heritage. It was a valuable place to share various activities such as intangible heritage protection activities and improvement plans between countries. One of the things that gets the most attention from the Intergovernmental Committee will be the new listing of the UNESCO Intangible Heritage List. Before the committee was held, a total of 46 applications were submitted for listing on the representative list, of which 31 were recommended for listing, 14 were requested for supplementation, and one was impossible. Thirty-nine of them were registered at the committee site. Some intangible heritage sites had a tense debate.

Traditonal Korean Performance captured through immersive digital content- Jeokbyeokga by Yun Jin-cheol

This service is the result of a collaboration between the Center for Intangible Culture Studies (CICS) and Korea Electronics Technology Institue (KETI) to carry out <3D performances of traditional Korean heritage performances and development of XR service platform technology>. This project is supported by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Korea. The research aims to provide immersive content for traditional performances through high-quality digital data archiving, based on performances in the field, creating 3D performance and XR service platform technology development for the preservation of the original form of traditional performances and the creation of new non-face-to-face inventory services. The key elements of this research are 1) multi-sensor-based high-quality 3D data acquisition device for performers, 2) AI-based performance site high-quality 3D performance generation system, 3) digital archiving-based interactive XR service platform, which digitizes all performance elements of tr

Launch of a Fund to Assist Intangible Cultural Heritage NGOs and Communities in Situations of Crises

Launch of a Fund to Assist Intangible Cultural Heritage NGOs and Communities in Situations of Crises Please click on this link to donate: <a href="https://gofund.me/431b7e64">https://gofund.me/431b7e64</a> The ICH NGO Forum is the membership organization of NGOs that are accredited to UNESCO’s 2003 Convention for Safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage. It operates, among other things, as a networking organization among NGOs most of whom operate on the ground working with local communities that are the bearers of this heritage and for whom it is often essential for their livelihoods and resilience. The Forum is launching this fundraising campaign to assist accredited ICH NGOs and communities in emergency situations. A growing number of NGOs and communities are being impacted by climate change (floods, cyclones, mud slides, heat waves, forest fires, drought) and armed conflict (destruction of physical ICH spaces, mortality, forced migration, loss of ICH practices), the two being

Seventeenth session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage

The seventeenth session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage will be hosted by the Kingdom of Morocco in Rabat (Sofitel Rabat Jardin des Roses) from 28 November to 3 December 2022. H.E. Mr Samir Addahre, Ambassador and Permanent Delegate of the Kingdom of Morocco to UNESCO, will chair this annual gathering which will be attended by representatives of States Parties, non-governmental organizations, cultural institutions and other stakeholders from across the globe. Participants are invited to register as soon as possible and in any case before 14 November 2022. General information for this session will be published on this webpage. An information and exchange meeting was held on 4 October 2022 at UNESCO Headquarters. The working documents of the meeting will be published on this webpage by 31 October 2022.

The 2022 Jeonju International Awards for Promoting Intangible Cultural Heritage (2022 JIAPICH)

As planned this year, the 2022 Jeonju International Awards for Promoting Intangible Cultural Heritage (2022 JIAPICH) went successfully. The 2022 JIAPICH Award Ceremony, organized by the Center for Intangible Culture Studies (CICS), ended successfully on October 19. The winners were the Ms Anka Raik from Bosnia Herzegovina, The Ifugao Museum in the Philippines and The Serfenta Association in Poland. The Winners, intangible heritage Experts, and the general public gathered together at the Korean National Center for Intangible Heritage in Jeonju to share the value of intangible heritage. The video of the award ceremony will be uploaded to the YouTube channel Intangible Cultural Research Institute. https://www.youtube.com/c/CICSinKorea/featured

ICH NGO FORUM - Newsletter

The ICH NGO Forum has the pleasure to announce that the Newsletter is now back with the publication of the first edition of 2022. The Forum remains committed to strengthening the active and meaningful participation of NGOs in the implementation of the 2003 Convention on Intangible Cultural Heritage. Likewise, the Forum would like to inform its membership organizations that the Newsletter is now open to welcome news on shared mutual experiences, key updates that speak to the sustainable founding mission of our Forum. (Sekou Berte, Communication Officier, Steering Committee of the ICH NGO Forum)

Publication of the Evaluation of UNESCO’s Action in the framework of the 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage

This second evaluation focussing on the 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (hereafter the 2003 Convention) marks the first follow-up exercise to the cycle of Internal Oversight Service evaluations of UNESCO’s six culture conventions. The main purpose of this 2021 evaluation was to generate findings, lessons learned, and recommendations regarding the relevance and effectiveness of UNESCO’s action in the framework of the 2003 Convention.As the second youngest UNESCO Culture Convention, the 2003 Convention has been one of the most successful, not only because it has reached nearly universal ratification only fifteen years after entering into force, but especially because it has succeeded in raising awareness of the distinct nature and importance of intangible cultural heritage. Stakeholders attribute this achievement largely to the Convention’s Representative List as well as to UNESCO’s vast capacity building programme.At the same time, the 2003 Co

CICS Interview Series

The Center for Intangible Culture Studies in Korea's YouTube channel provides contents that are both educational and inspiring to those in the field of heritage studies. The CICS Interview Series was started in 2021 with the idea around recording ICH experts around the world that can be informative to those in research, academia, and with interest in the field of ICH. The latest interviewee is Professor Laurier Turgeon of Lavar University in Quebec, Canada, who is also the president of the steering committee of the 2022 ICH NGO Forum. Check out the interview through YouTube link below! CICS Interview Series: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHx4_DBXCKo&t=1574s">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHx4_DBXCKo&t=1574s</a>

2021 Jeonju ICH Awards

Watch the 2021 Jeonju ICH Awards: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6aLNij99bBI&t=1320s Watch the 2021 Jeonju ICH Zoom Festival:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D7lM8VCY4zU&t=289s

INTANGIBLE CULTURAL HERITAGE for Sustainable Management of HISTORIC TOWNS in South Asia: Theory to Practice

ICOMOS India is orgaising an e-SYMPOSIUM on INTANGIBLE CULTURAL HERITAGE for Sustainable Management of HISTORIC TOWNS in South Asia: Theory to Practice. Spaced across 5 events from May-July2021: experts and emerging professionals from Bangladesh: Bhutan: India: Nepal: Pakistan and Sri Lanka will exchange knowledge and practices. For more details: you may see the video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wr3tIY76JQA. Please register in advance for this webinar series/event: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUkcuusqTwvE9GcAUZWGeuE-zrSFgVvGbCz

Reggae groove kicks off 15th Intangible Heritage Committee session online

The warmth of reggae marked the opening on 14 December of the 15th session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage: chaired by H.E. Ms Olivia Grange: Minister of Culture: Gender: Entertainment and Sport of Jamaica.More than 800 online participants in nearly 140 countries are registered to attend six online sessions chaired from Jamaica with the support of UNESCO’s Secretariat in Paris.During the opening: UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azouley stressed that “intangible heritage is indeed a powerful way of healing the wounds in our societies. This is true for tears in the social fabric; it is also true for the fracture between humanity and nature. (…). Intangible heritage is also a resource that can be used to rise above political disputes: acknowledging the ties between people.” Ms Azoulay ended her address “Because respecting heritage is not only about protecting it; it is also about making it known to future generations. This means ensuring that young peopl

Follow-Up Activities of the Steering Committee (SC), 3 November 2020 (13th meeting)

Follow-Up Activities of the Steering Committee (SC): 3 November 2020 (13th meeting)Current issues◼ ICH NGO Conference co-organized by ICHCAP and ICH NGO ForumSakr informed the committee about the ongoing preparation of the conference. Janet Blake accepted to serve as one of moderators. There is a problem to get in touch with an OECD representative from Latin America; Caicedo expects his response by tomorrow. A representative from Amagugu International Heritage Centre should send her full application; Nyathi will mediate concerning this request. The committee agreed that Nömgård would greet the participants at the beginning of the conference. She will also invite Tim Curtis to address the conference participants: and Sakr will provide her with background information. An updated version of the material of the conference has just been published by ICHCAP: and these days it will also be published on our website and through social media; Sakr will contact Desiderio in this regard.◼ Next Newsletter of the ForumThis

Follow-Up Activities of the Steering Committee (SC), 14 October 2020 (12th meeting)

Follow-Up Activities of the Steering Committee (SC): 14 October 2020 (12th meeting)Current issues◼ ICH NGO Conference co-organized by ICHCAP and ICH NGO ForumSakr reported about the ongoing preparation of the conference. Caicedo helped her to establish contact with an OECD representative who will be one of keynote speakers. Sakr suggested to the Steering Committee: and members accepted: to invite Matti Hakamäki to present the objectives of the Forum’s working group in-the-making on geographical imbalance of accredited NGOs: as well as to invite additional participants representing African perspectives on ICH and resilience in crisis: such as Nyathi. Nyathi accepted the invitation; he will prepare presentation about indigenous system of knowledge in reference to COVID-19: while Sakr will contact Hakamäki regarding his participation.◼ Next Newsletter of the ForumOnce again: the members of the Steering Committee confirmed for the next Newsletter to be prepared and published before 15.COM. It will include outcome

Webinar on “Crafting Resilience: Craft Communities and their Resilience as Embedded in the Traditional Knowledge: A Critical Component of Intangible Cultural Heritage” organized by ICOMOS India and NSC-Intangible Cultural Heritage

Happy to share about the upcoming webinar “Crafting Resilience: Craft communities and their resilience as embedded in the traditional knowledge: A critical component of intangible cultural heritage” organized by ICOMOS India and NSC-Intangible Cultural Heritage as a part of ICOMOS International webinar series on 31st October’ 2020 from 11 am GMT to 1 pm GMT (4.30 to 6.30 IST). Four case studies from different parts of India with a historic perspective of crafts communities: their confrontation with disasters and the success stories of adaptations and movements of crafts revival across India will be shared Please register in advance at: https://us02web.zoom.us/.../tZYpf-qrpjkpG9Kt55DuM...The webinar will also be streamed live in Facebook page of ICOMOS India https://www.facebook.com/icomosindia

Revitalizing women’s chants of Taroudant, High Atlas of Morocco

In the High Atlas of Morocco: in the town of Taroudant: there is a practise known as Chikhate – singing groups consisting of women who travel from region to region performing chants at important social events and festivities. The chants of the Chikate are renowned for their beautiful harmonies: which are acompanied by a variety of instruments and perfomed to choreographed dances.Gradually: however: modern music and DJ shows have taken the place of Chikhate performances at weddings or social celebrations. To help safeguard their heritage: the remaining groups of performers have decided to revitalize the practise. In collaboration with the Moroccan Association Bhayer Dalya and with the support of the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Fund: Chikate groups are working to raise awareness among younger generations of their tradition and are preparing an inventory of their chants and verses.Over the last three years: Bhayer Dalya has interviewed the women of Taroudant: who still practice these chants and is traini

Follow-Up Activities of the Steering Committee (SC), 16 September 2020

Follow-Up Activities of the Steering Committee (SC): 16 September 2020 (11th meeting)Current Issues◼ ICH NGO Conference co-organized by ICHCAP and ICH NGO Forum Sakr is continuously in contact with ICHCAP concerning the online conference “ICH and resilience in crisis: Implication in the Era of B.C. (Before Corona) and A.C. (After Corona)”. The organizers have selected presentations and participants for the conference: and ICHCAP is in contract with all of them. The selection of keynote speakers is in the process: following also the suggestions received from the Steering Committee in August. Besides: the ICHCAP asked the Forum if we can provide a congratulatory message for its 2020 World Forum for ICH in late September: and thus Nömgård sent our greeting in a form of a short video.◼ Next Newsletter of the ForumThe members of the Steering Committee confirmed for the next Newsletter to be preparedand published before 15.COM.◼ Reflection on 8.GA and Forum’s discussion sessions related to itCaicedo provided an ove

Nearly US$500,000 granted to support safeguarding activities in Antigua and Bermuda, Burundi, Egypt, South Sudan and Uruguay

The Intangible Cultural Heritage Fund provides assistance to States Parties in their efforts to safeguard their living heritage. Last September: the Bureau of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage examined International Assistance requests under US$100:000. A total of US$479:994 was granted to implement safeguarding activities in Antigua and Bermuda: Burundi: Egypt: South Sudan and Uruguay:◼ The project Strengthening capacities for the implementation of the 2003 Convention for the safeguarding of the intangible cultural heritage in Antigua and Barbuda aims to create the country’s first national inventory of living heritage: enhancing national technical capacities to harvest and interpret related data and improving upon the exchange of information between the public and private sectors as well as civil society. Two pilot safeguarding activities – focusing on the Game of Warri and Traditional Boatbuilding – will be undertaken to trial safeguarding measures and

Follow-Up Activities of the Steering Committee (SC), 2 September 2020

■ Preparation of statement and programme for 8.GAThe first online discussion session dedicated to 8.GA was held on 1 September via Zoom. Around twenty ICH NGOs took an opportunity to discuss the agenda and documents for 8.GA from the perspective of NGOs: as well as the Forum’s statement for 8.GA. On the basis of the outcomes of the session: the members of the Steering Committee finalized the statement. Since none of the members of the Steering Committee will attend the GA in person: our statement will be presented in a form of a video message: which will be broadcasted on 8 September after the report of the Secretariat on its activities. Besides: the Forum wants to intervene on agenda item 11: related to the reflection on the listing mechanisms of the Convention. The intervention has been finalized: but at the moment it is not yet known if the GA will allow its presentation. Another session of the Forum pertaining to 8.GA will be held via Zoom on 14 September in English and on 15 September in French to discus

ICH NGO Forum's documents for the 8th General Assembly of UNESCO's Convention

ICH NGO Forum's documents for the 8th General Assembly of UNESCO's Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage◼ Statement : http://www.ichngoforum.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/ICH-NGO-Forum-statement-8-GA-2020-fin.pdf◼ Intervention : http://www.ichngoforum.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/ICH-NGO-Forum-intervention-8GA-11-fin.pdf◼ Item 11 of the 8.GA Agenda - Update on the reflection on the listing mechanism of the Convention : http://www.ichngoforum.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Reform-of-the-listing-mechanism_short-report_ICH-NGO-Forum.pdf◼ Invitation to the ICH NGO Forum's online meetings on 14th and 15th September 2020 : http://www.ichngoforum.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Invitation-to-ICH-NGO-Forums-online-meetings.pdf

Follow-Up Activities of the Steering Committee (SC), 5 August 2020

■ ICH NGO Conference co-organized by ICHCAP and ICH NGO ForumSakr is continuously in contact with ICHCAP concerning the online conference “ICH and resilience in crisis: Implication in the Era of B.C. (Before Corona) and A.C. (After Corona)”. The call for papers has been published: and is open until the mid August. The co-organizers currently discuss the selection of keynote speakers: and how to additionally motivate NGOs to submit their proposals. Members of the Steering Committee suggested few additional experts who could be considered to serve as keynote speakers: especially concerning the theme of resilience system analysis. As for the participation of ICH NGOs: it is important to motivate those that have been continuously involved in the activities of the Forum: but also to be as encouraging as possible to newcomers.■ Next Newsletter of the ForumThe new issue of the Newsletter: dedicated to responses of ICH NGOs to the pandemic: will be published these days. It is quite extensive: probably the most extens

Follow-Up Activities of the Steering Committee (SC), 1 July 2020

Follow-Up Activities of the Steering Committee (SC): 1 July 2020■ Work of ICH NGO Forum under Coronavirus epidemicFollowing the previously adopted plan (see minutes of the 7th meeting) and the current situation in Caicedo’s family: the members adopted a revised plan to broaden the number of online discussion sessions on ICH in emergencies and under COVID-19: planned in relation to the preparation of Forum’s report for 15.COM (see 6.b below): from one to several. In coordination with Nömgård: Ceribašić will present this revised plan to Matti Hakamäki: who is in charge of facilitating the work of the group dealing with emergencies and COVID-19. When the circumstances allow: Caicedo will join the group and further develop theinitial plan.■ ICH NGO Conference co-organized by ICHCAP and ICH NGO ForumSince the last meeting of the SC: the topic of the conference has been defined: and call for papers created and discussed between the ICHCAP and the Forum: represented by Sakr. The title of the conference is “ICH and r

Amid COVID 19, UNESCO Peru defines new ways to inventory living heritage with communities in Ayacucho, Peru

Project: Community-based inventorying of intangible heritage in urban areas (1 January 2018 – 1 December 2021) The call for participation in the pilot project ‘Community-based inventorying of intangible cultural heritage in the urban context of Ayacucho: Peru’ attracted hundreds of applicants. Of these: 56 selected public officials: archaeologists: anthropologists: communicators: teachers: bearers: practitioners and cultural managers came together in January 2020 for an initial training workshop with the objective to set up the methodological framework for the inventorying and to plan the process. However: when the COVID-19 pandemic reached Peru in March 2020: a general confinement was declared: and all field work had to be put on hold. To sustain the interest and momentum gained during the preparatory phase: UNESCO proposed to continue the project during confinement through the use of both digital and analogue technologies: including virtual interviews with bearers and academic researchers. Three online meet

Follow-Up Activities of the Steering Committee (SC), 3 June 2020

■ Work of ICH NGO Forum under Coronavirus epidemicAs a follow-up regarding the UNESCO’s platform on living heritage experiences in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic: Jorge Gustavo Caicedo presented to the Steering Committee the draft call to all accredited NGOs to participate in a video presentation with Q&A on how the pandemic has impacted their activities: what are the measures that they are implementing to confront the situation: and what is the expectation of NGOs on the forthcoming future. All presentations are planned to be held in English: French or Spanish (in one of these languages for a single event) on the Zoom communication platform: and broadcast live to ichngo.net: ichngoforum.org: YouTube and Facebook. The proposal was endorsed by the members of the Steering Committee. The first such “conversation” or “debate”: as these events will be called: will be held towards the end of June or the beginning of July. Jorge Gustavo Caicedo will facilitate those in English and Spanish: and Donghwan Choi t

Eighth Session of the General Assembly(8.GA) Postponed to 8 to 10 September 2020

The eighth session of the General Assembly of the States Parties to the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (previously foreseen from 25 to 27 August) has been rescheduled due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic to 8 to 10 September 2020 (UNESCO Headquarters: Paris). The modality of the General Assembly may be subject to further change: given the unprecedented and evolving situation.Over the three days: 178 States Parties will discuss a number of issues that are important for the safeguarding of living heritage around the world. All working documents for the session will be published by 7 August 2020 on this webpage.Link: https://ich.unesco.org/en/8ga

Follow-Up Activities of the Steering Committee (SC), 6 May 2020

■ Work of ICH NGO Forum under Coronavirus Epidemic After the publication of a general call to NGOs to share their experiences in safeguarding ICH under the epidemic COVID-19 in the last ICH NGO Forum-Newsletter in April: 2020: the Steering Committee has discussed on the second call which would focus on foreseeing the immediate future impact of the pandemic: how it may change the practice of ICH elements: what new challenges are expected in safeguarding: and what would be a path back into “normal”. After the discussion: the members of the Steering Committee agreed to elaborate the complete call before the next meeting of the Steering Committee. ■ Proposal from ICHCAP regarding co-organization of an online ICH NGO Conference ICHCAP has hosted the Asia-Pacific ICH NGO conference every two years since 2016 and the third Asia-Pacific ICH NGO Conference was originally scheduled to be held in Jeonju: South Korea: in November 2020: with the initial theme of ICH and education. But due to the pandemic COVID-19: ICHCAP

Volunteers for ad hoc sub-committee for the ICH NGO Forum report at 15.COM

Volunteers for ad hoc sub-committee for the ICH NGO Forum report at 15. COM(See below for the french version)Dear colleagues:we hope that this email finds you well and safe from the spread of Covid-19.As you know: at 14. COM the Intergovernmental Committee decided to include our report as a separate agenda item at its next session. It will be first such report in the history of the Forum: and it requires our due attention.Several members of the Steering Committee had an online meeting with UNESCO Secretariat: where we discussed formal requirement for the report. It is expected to be no longer than 5 pages; it may use as a model the reports of ad hoc working groups; the greatest attention should be given to the draft decision as the binding part of the agenda item: while overall contents of the report is up to the Forum to decide. The deadline for completing the English version of the report is the end of September. The Secretariat will translate it into French: and both versions needs to be available at the U

Online training for periodic reporting launched in Latin America and the Caribbean

National focal points for periodic reporting from 33 countries and associated member States of UNESCO across Latin America and the Caribbean took part last Tuesday in the launch of the new online training course for the reformed periodic reporting process: which is being rolled out in the Latin America and Caribbean region for the first time this year.UNESCO developed the course in collaboration with CRESPIAL with the aim to build capacities for the preparation of the country reports and to strengthen the national monitoring processes of the 2003 Convention. It will also provide an occasion for peer learning: networking and strategic discussion among participating focal points and UNESCO colleagues.The course: which has been adapted to an online format in response to the COVID-19 crisis: presents a new modality for delivering training under the global capacity-building strategy: and will take place over a period of six weeks from 19 May to 23 June. Link: https://ich.unesco.org/en/news/online-training-for-peri

Follow-Up Activities of Steering Committee(SC)

■ Publication of the Newsletter The ICHNGO Forum Newsletter was distributed on 10 April: 2020. Link: http://ipw1.mjt.lu/nl2/ipw1/mhwyz.html?m=AMUAAG4ynZcAAcp9SuoAAAAYkL0AAAAUPK8AAG2QAAhZhABekH6VcK_F42C1S8W_cvNYtqNL4AAH8AE&b=ce917d60&e=796b3e97&x=dcVxVxUKwyeqK1pPsQLBfCpu_MhYZwEb6wit78bUopMThe SC will issue the next Newsletter at the end of June or the beginning of July: sharing experiences and good practices of ICH in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. ■ Preparation of Program for 8.GAThe 8th session of the General Assembly of the States Parties to the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage has been rescheduled to 25 to 27 August: 2020 due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.It has appeared that at the moment nobody can be completely sure about the date: format: and agenda of 8.GA yet from the talks with the UNESCO Secretariat of the Convention held on 6 April. It may happen that it will be shortened: that no side events will be organized and/or that it will be postponed again. Ne

UNESCO launches platform on living heritage and the COVID-19 pandemic

IMPACT ON LIVING HERITAGEExperiences shared so far through the online survey have shown the scale of disruption across the world: with many significant festive events and rituals cancelled or postponed. Some communities can no longer access the cultural and natural spaces and places of memory necessary for expressing their intangible cultural heritage: while others are restricted from coming together to share and enjoy many aspects of their intangible cultural heritage: so important to them.This has not only caused disruptions in the social and cultural lives of many: but has also resulted in loss of income for many bearers and practitioners of intangible cultural heritage. Those working in the performing arts and traditional crafts: who largely operate in the informal sector: have been particularly hard hit. Although it is still early to assess the economic costs: artisans the world over have responded to the survey noting loss of livelihoods as they face challenges in supplying orders and accessing raw mate

Follow-Up Activities of Steering Committee(SC)

■ Preparation of program for 8.GA(1) 8.GA has been rescheduled from 9-11 June to 25-27 August: 2020.(2) Arranging ICH NGO Forum Desk for 8th General Assembly.(Guiding NGOs to present their materials such as leaflets: brochures: perhaps also posters: etc./ letters to be sent to all accredited NGOs) (3) Organizing a panel presentation and in-depth discussion on one or two success stories of good: viable: and innovative safeguarding practices.(The outcomes of the ICH and Museums (IMP) project to be presented) ■ Preparation of program for 15.COM(1) The theme of the Symposium is “ICH and Tourism.”(2) The joint session on the “Wheel Chart of Sustainability and ICH” co-organized by Finland (Sharing chart’s application in the work of ICH NGOs and their role in safeguarding)(3) The report of accredited NGOs will be introduced as a separate agenda. The reform of the listing mechanism: regional reporting: application of the overall results framework: treatment of correspondence from the public: etc. will be discus

Living heritage experiences in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic

While we are currently going through extraordinary conditions of lockdown on a global scale due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic: we are also seeing the ways in which the impact of this crisis goes beyond our physical health. Festivals and cultural events are being cancelled or postponed: and cultural practices and rituals are being restricted: causing disruptions in the lives of many people.At the same time: we are seeing how living heritage can be a source of resilience in such difficult circumstances: as people continue to draw inspiration: joy and solidarity from practising their living heritage. With this in mind: UNESCO is inviting its partners to share their experiences on the role of living heritage during the pandemic and how its safeguarding has been affected in the immediate term.We hope that these stories will help enhance our learning about safeguarding living heritage in the context of COVID-19 and inspire communities to learn from each other and exchange experiences.Please send us your ex

Reports of the ICH NGO Forum at the Pre & 14th Session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of ICH to be held in Bogota from 7 to 14 December 2019.

You can find the attached reports of the ICH NGO Forum activities at Pre-14.COM and 14.COM held in Bogota: Colombia from 7 to 14 December 2019.

Nordic-Baltic ICH Network established, Kaustinen ICH seminar 2019 video available online

The Nordic and Baltic network on Intangible Cultural Heritage was established 13.7.2019 at the Kaustinen Intangible Cultural Heritage Seminar 2019. The organization of the network will be discussed in a satellite meeting associated with the first Nordic ICH conference Living heritage in the Nordic countries. International seminar on the UNESCO 2003 Convention: 31.10–1.11.2019 in Hanaholmen Cultural Centre: Espoo: Finland.See more information on the network and watch the Kaustinen seminar video(http://www.kansanmusiikki-instituutti.fi/toiminta/nordic-baltic-ich-network/).

Baul Fakir Mela in New Delhi on 9th-10th November, 2019

Nearly 200 Baul-Fakiri songs: Bengali Qawaali and Dhamail songs were sung by a whopping community of 60 Baul-Fakir musicians from Bengal before around 1500 people: if not more: at the Meghdoot Open Air Theater Auditorium of Sangeet Natak Academy: New Delhi: over a span of 13 hours across 2 days. Around 70% of the audience: meaning: more than 1000 of the audience were from the diaspora Bengali community of New Delhi. Again: the fact that more than 500 among the attendees were from the non-Bengali communities residing in and around Delhi was: in itself: no mean feat!

Jeonju International Awards for Promoting Intangible Cultural Heritage

The Jeonju International Awards for Promoting Intangible Cultural Heritage aims to recognize good safeguarding practices of intangible cultural heritage (ICH) and to encourage the proliferation of values of ICH such as social cohesion: cooperation: and cultural diversity for the future development of the global community. The awards are given to individuals: groups: institutions: NGOs: and those who have made substantial contributions to promoting ICH. Jeonju City is happy to made an opportunity to praise their commitments and indomitable spirit for the safeguarding of ICH. Taking the first step in 2019: Jeonju International Awards for Promoting ICH hopes to become sustainable with prestige gaining a great deal of attention from the world. A) SignificanceThe Jeonju International Awards for Promoting ICH are international awards established by Jeonju: a city of traditional culture. The local government: Jeonju City: took the initiative to transmit: safeguard: and promote ICH around the world. Jeonju is a cultu

Outdoor Events at the Jeonju International Awards

Exhibition & Hands-on Experience of ICH -Patachitra exhibition-Hapjukseon (Fan making)-Jihwa (paper Flower)-Jeonju Yiyangju (Folk Liquor)-Hanji paper photo exhibition-Jeonju future cultural heritage exhibition

The First Jeonju International Awards

Congratulations to the winners! Winners are Contact Base from India: Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador of Canada and Professor Ahmed Skounti of Morocco.

Green Ivory - An Exhibition on Shola Craft of Bengal

The project ‘Revival of Shola Craft Tradition of Bengal’ implemented by banglanatak dot com supported by The Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany Kolkata; is an attempt to revitalize the traditional art of Shola of Bengal.Shola (Aeschynomene aspera) is a milky white: delicate spongy plant found in the marshlands of Bengal. The pith of the reeds of the plant is used to make items of decoration. This exhibition Green Ivory is an attempt to showcase the variations that the craft offers and create a platform for discussing how the craft can be taken forward. The varieties of unexplored ritualistic: decorative and contemporary products of Shola will be showcased during the exhibition.

Green Ivory

The project Revival of Shola Craft Tradition of Bengal by banglanatak dot com supported by The Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany Kolkata; is an attempt to revitalize the symbolic abstraction of emotion using Shola. Shola is a milky white: delicate spongy plant mostly found in marshy lands of West Bengal: India. Exhibition Green Ivory is a part of the above mentioned project which will be held between 17 July and 19 July: 2019 at Bengal Art Gallery: International Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR): Kolkata in India. The varieties of unexplored ritualistic: decorative and contemporary products of Shola will be showcased by the rural artists of West Bengal: India.

Announcement of the 2019 Jeonju International Awards for Promoting Intangible Cultural Heritage

We express our sincere gratitude to all applicants for the 2019 Jeonju International Awards for Promoting Intangible Cultural Heritage. We recognize and deeply appreciate what you and your organizations have achieved with respect to the safeguarding and revitalization of ICH. The selection process was very challenging as all applicants demonstrated good practices for the safeguarding ICH with courage and lofty spirit. Only three applicants (individuals and organizations) were selected as finalists from forty-eight applicants from 36 countries on six continents. Jeonju City announces the following three finalist candidates for public verification as the final process for the 2019 Jeonju International Awards for Promoting Intangible Cultural Heritage. The finalist candidates can be found on the following link:http://www.cics.center/jiapich_Announcement/

2nd Jeonju-ChiangMai International Conference on Traditional Culture

This international conference is organized in order to exchange the knowledge of intangible cultural heritage between Jeonbuk National University of Jeonju and Chiang Mai University. The first conference was held in the city of Chiang Mai on August: 2018 hosted by the Chiang Mai Creative City of Crafts and Folk Arts (CCMCCFA): the UNESCO Creative City of Chiang Mai.

The 5th Workshop of UNESCO accredited NGO Association in Korea

The four UNESCO accredited NGOs(IMACO: WoMAU: CICS: KCHF of Korea are now having a workshop in Andong city: Republic of Korea.

National inventory: places, rituals, practices

Aigine Curltural Research Center (Kyrgyzstan) continues the inventory of sacred sites and related practices under the project " Safeguarding of Practices and Rare Rituals Related to Sacred Sites in Kyrgyzstan: Preparation of an Inventory and Safeguarding Measures."At this stage: desk researches are conducted on the basis of the organization’s previous field materials. The purpose of this researches is to compile national lists of sacred places: practices and rituals performed on places of pilgrimage. In the course of the desk researches: the lists of sacred sites are clarified and the rituals of each region are described. Interviews are also held with spiritual practitioners. Interviews are held in the format of real and online meetings: telephone conversations. The stage of desk research precedes the work with regional teams.On 20 February 2019: Aigine CRC conducted a preliminary workshop in the framework of the project.The main goal of the workshop was to discuss ways and patterns of inventorying rituals an

Master’s TEMA Heritage Studies Program (including ICH) and scholarships are available!

Master’s TEMA Heritage Studies Program (including ICH) and scholarships are available in Europe! Applications must be sent before February 24:2019. The TEMA Erasmus Mundus master's program in heritage studies: funded by the European Union: will be offering 20 scholarships of a value of 30 000 euros for the two year period from September 2019 to August 2021. Scholarship: 30 000 euros over two years.Study Program: all students are required to spend the first semester in Budapest (Sept. to December 2019, and the other three at the partner university of their choice (EHESS in Paris: Charles University in Prague: University of Catania in Catania: Italy: or Laval University in Quebec City (Master's Program in Ethnology and Heritage)Languages of study: English and FrenchCo-graduation: Master's degree in the Erasmus Mundus program and Master's degree at the university of study.Deadline for submission of applications: 24 February 17h00Application forms: available on the website: https://mastertema.eu/

2018 ICH NGO FORUM : Meetings with Assistant Director-General

Meetings on ICH NGO FORUM with Assistant Director-General !

ICH NGO FORUM Steering Committee New Members!!

ICH NGO FORUM Steering Committee New Members !! Welcome !

ELECTIONS of ICH NGO FORUM Steering Committee

ELECTIONS of ICH NGO FORUMSteering CommitteePort-Louis: Mauritius

Ssirum : Traditional Korean Wrestling

2018 World Forum for ICH "Intangible Cultural Heritage and Peace"

The 2018 World Forum for Intangible Cultural Heritage themed with Intangible Cultural Heritage and Peace was finished successfully thanks to enthusiasm and active involvement of all the participants: and the great help and efforts of all the volunteers and staff members of the CICS: the secretariat. It was held at the Intangible Heritage Center in Jeonju city for three days from October 25 to 27. The forum opened grandly with the keynote speech titled 'Intangible Cultural Heritage and Peace-making' by Marielza Oliveira: Director of UNESCO Beijing Office. Welcome performances: especially Jeollabuk-do Children's Korean Traditional Music Orchestra thrilled the audience the most.Also H.E. Amin Muhammad Dalhatu: embassador of Nigeria in Seoul: attended the open ceremony and congratulated the forum. All the interest showing from distinguished guests including Mayor of Jeonju city: representatives of other organizations: and experts working in the field of ICH led the forum to the successful event as well. The prais

Latvian song & dance celebration Participation

Fun!!!

CICS at the ICHNGO platform in the 7th session of the General Assembly

CICS at the ICHNGO platform

Having wonderful time at 7. GA

Networking with other NGOs for safeguarding ICH is i nspiring!

Jeonju Declaration on "Intangible Cultural Heritage, a Resource for the City of Today and Tomorrow."

Jeonju Declaration on "Intangible Cultural Heritage: a Resource for the City of Today and Tomorrow"- Adopted in Jeonju: Republic of Korea: Oct. 28: 2017We: the participants of the 2017 World Intangible Cultural Heritage Forum (hereinafter referred to as the "Forum") express our sincere gratitude to the officials of Jeonju City: the National Intangible Heritage Center of Korea and the Center for Intangible Culture Studies (Jeonju). In particular: we are thankful for the possibility of holding in-depth discussions under the auspices of Mayor Kim Seung-soo and the Director Cho Hyun Jung of the National Intangible Heritage Center. The importance of intangible cultural heritage in cities is becoming increasingly apparent. According to the spirit of the UNESCO 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage and in light of the Sustainable Development Goals of Agenda 2030: the significance of intangible cultural heritage and its safeguarding cannot be underestimated. In particular: we recogn

The 3rd Workshop of UNESCO Accredited NGO Association, Korea [UANAK]

The 3rd Workshop of UNESCO Accredited NGO Association: Korea [UANAK] The five UNESCO accredited NGOs in Korea gathered in Chungju for a workshop to share information and strengthen networks organized by WoMAU (World Martial Arts Union) on February 22: 2018. Due to the Pyeonchang Winter Olympic Games: the related organizations became very busy and many of them could not participate in the workshop.Each organization reported its activities throughout the year 2017 and had an apportunity to share its initiatives and knowledge. All seemed different but verified the common goal of safeguarding the intangible cultural heritage. They made sure to keep up the good work to build up capacities of the regional NGOs. They all agreed to take a good advantage of the web-board (ichngo.net): for activating networks: that CICS (Center for Intangible Culture Studies)has launched. The web-board is now being launched as a Beta version and being tested. It is believed that it would be a promising to boost networks both in accre